Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone...what a year it was!  A year ago, I was about 5 months pregnant, and getting used to the idea that I was having a baby boy.  While my husband was probably dreaming happy thoughts of having a little fishing buddy, I was looking around my sewing space wondering what I could make for a boy!  I had spent years making things for girls, and my fabric stash definitely hinted at that.

I spent a few months working on a quilt for my daughter Maddy, and a few projects for her baby brother - a Boppy Cover, and a mini quilt for him.  When I had gone searching online for some boy project ideas, it was very clear there wasn't a lot out there.  I also remembered from my experience selling at the farmer's market that Boys items are very popular, because you don't find them very often! 

I started playing around with making Bow Ties and Neck Ties, and then my friend Danyel of Crazy Socks Crochet was having a giveaway, and she needed more boy items.  I offered to giveaway a set of three bow ties, and that was just the push I needed towards this crazy adventure I've been riding on ever since.  I was randomly surfing through Facebook one night, and noticed a post that Keri Meyers had posted, looking for photo props, different from the traditional hats/etc.  I sent her an email, and we chatted a bit about how small of a world it is - we both graduated from high school the same year, and we grew up less than 30 miles from each other.  That night changed my life - if I had not been on Facebook at the right time, life could be very different for me - our Facebook page was sitting around 800 fans, and today we have over 10,000.  Absolutely INSANE. 

This was the very first photo that Keri posted using one of my ties:

Keri*Meyers*Photography

I remember the day that photo was posted - I was sitting at my sewing machine working on something, and my phone started blowing up with emails from Etsy.  I had no idea what was going on - I went online and immediately saw this photo, and it dawned on me what had just begun.  If I only knew....

A couple weeks later I was in the hospital having my baby boy.  Luckily I had brought my laptop with me so that I could stay in touch - otherwise I would have gotten so far behind.  I am also very blessed to have a very supportive husband that is a very involved father. 

Here we are about 8 months later and I have exciting plans for this year.  I have reorganized my sewing space, and I took a couple weeks off in December to enjoy my family and the holidays - it was sooo needed.  I actually shut down my online shop - the first time since starting this adventure - so that when I returned, I wouldn't be behind - I would be starting fresh.  What an amazing feeling!

Usually for New Year's I don't make resolutions, I decide on a focus for the new year.  Several times, my focus has been patience.  This year, my focus is balance.  When I worked for Target, a huge "thing" is Work/Life balance - they wanted everyone to have it, stressed it, etc.  Funny thing is, I don't think I knew a single manager that truly had a work/life balance there.  At least not 100% of the time.  Still, it's nice to know it's valued.  Anywho...back to me and this year.  I am focusing on my own Work/Life balance.  This includes not sitting at the sewing machine for 14 hours straight - at least not on a regular basis.  I am hoping if I focus on balance, I will enjoy my work, and enjoy the fruits of my labor - and spend more time with my family. 

I am also hoping to blog a little more.  I'd like this blog to be more than just a place to host giveaways. 

Happy New Years everyone!  I hope this new year is full of fresh starts, happy beginnings and plenty of BALANCE.

Farewell, Old Friend

You see this bottle, innocently sitting on the top shelf of my fridge.  This is my weakness.  My Achilles heal, if you will.  There are two particular ways that I love to drink Coca Cola.  Preferably, from the fountain.  But it must have the perfect syrup to soda water ratio, or it's no good.  McDonald's and Wendy's typically are a safe bet for a good Coke.  Very rarely can you go to a gas station convenience store and find a good fountain Coke.  The second way I prefer to drink it is from a can, straight out of an ice cold cooler.  Excuse me while I feel a little faint.  Okay, back to you. 

To make a long story short, my love affair with Coke must come to an end.  When you start to consume a minimum of 32 ounces a day, you really have to stop and think about what exactly you are drinking.  I'm sure at some point in the future I will visit my friend, but I cannot continue on the path I have been. 

So, I'm putting this out into the Internet world, so someone besides myself will know about it.  If you see me drinking a Coke, feel free to question me about it, hold me accountable.  Unless you see a slightly crazed look in my eye - if that happens, then BACK OFF!  Really, it's for your own safety. 

Who am I?

Well, I suppose you could ask many people, and they would give you different answers. In short, I am a nearly (gasp!) 30 year old mommy that recently quit her corporate job to stay at home with her beautiful nearly 2 year old daughter. Out of my husband and myself, I am the only one with a college degree, so it does slightly bother me that I am the one staying home, but I am small business owner, so I guess that counts for something.

Why am I blogging? I have always loved writing, and being that I don't get a lot of adult conversation during the day, I needed some kind of creative outlet. I think I am funny, so why not bless the rest of the world with my gift of humor? ha ha.

My house is a home to me, my daughter, my husband (only about 2 days a week, more on that later), our 2 dogs (Ernie & Buddy) and our 4 cats (Fat Head, Smooches, Squirt and Pepper). We also have a grey cat living under our house that runs away when we drive in. Oh, and I think at present we have at least 2 mice living in our stand-alone garage type-shed building. There is a lot of love in this house.

What can you expect from this blog? The down and dirty details of my life as a stay at home mommy, my opinions, and other random ramblings. If you don't like it, you don't have to read. Or better yet, read and leave a comment! My husband can attest that I love to argue.

I'll also shamelessly plug the items I am currently selling, if the mood strikes me. I will also advertise other mommy-made things (or daddy-made, if I find those). I think that with our economy in a state that it is in, if we help each other, we might be able to get to the other side a little bit smoother.

You won't see me blog about politics, unless something really chaps my hide. But that doesn't usually happen. I might put my two cents in about current reality shows, etc.... who knows.

Okay, enough of all of that. I hope you will join me on this journey of expressing myself, my opinions, and general frustrations. Enjoy looking around!

Kerry

OOPPs...I forgot one of the most important things. Why am I called Kiwi? Well, when my neice Lily was born, we wanted her to call me something cute, rather than just Auntie Kerry. She and I have been very close since she was born, and having a special name was just that important. At first, we wanted my name to be Kiki, but Kiwi was easier to be said when Lily actually started talking, and my sister decided she wanted to be Kiki (her name is Kristin). Yes, my sister is very selfish, so I finally gave in. Ha! Secretly though, I absolutely love it every time I hear Lily call me Kiwi. Now, our business is called Kiwi and Kiki.

Okay, enough of that...for real this time.